Untersbergbahn

Who they are

The Untersbergbahn GmbH operates the Untersberg cable car, the limestone mountain that rises on the border between Salzburg and Bavaria. The company was founded on 15 May 1958 with the support of the mayor of Salzburg, and the construction, from 1958 to 1961, was done largely by hand and with climbers, because the rock face did not allow heavy machinery; the workers lived in tent camps on the mountain. Regular service began on 27 April 1961 and the official opening was on 14 May that year. In 2006 the technology was renovated and in 2018 the two cabins were replaced by ones with larger windows. Today it is run by Alexander Schrank.

What it offers and when

The cable car links the valley station, at St. Leonhard (municipality of Grödig), with the mountain station at 1,776 m, in about eight minutes. It leaves on the hour and half hour, with extra trips if it is busy. The timetable changes by season: from May to September it runs from 8:30 to 17:30; in March, April and October, until 17:00; in January, February and December, from 9:00 to 16:00. The last return ascent is half an hour before closing. Each autumn it stops for maintenance: in 2026, from 2 November to, in principle, 13 December. On 24 December it opens only in the morning.

Up top there is a restaurant at the station and, five minutes away, the Hochalm; the Zeppezauerhaus is a quarter of an hour away. Mountain paths start from the summit, and the company also presents the mountain for climbing, paragliding, ice cave visits, snowshoeing and ski touring. The highest huts close in winter, so look at the website before planning a route.

Prices and tickets

The published return fare is €34 for adults, €29 for over-65s, €24 for ages 14 to 17 and €17 for ages 6 to 13. There is a single ticket, ten-trip passes, and summer and annual passes; the last two are only bought at the ticket office. Dogs pay a ticket of their own and must be on a lead and muzzled. Tickets are sold at the valley ticket office and in the online shop linked from its website. There is no family fare.

Getting there and tips

The station is at Dr.-Friedrich-Ödl-Weg 2, in St. Leonhard. From Salzburg the city buses 25 (from the main station and passing through Hellbrunn), 28, 5 and 35 arrive, and from Berchtesgaden line 840; the final stop is called Untersbergbahn. By car you take the A10 motorway or the Alpenstraße. Since April 2025 parking is regulated; the website does not publish rates, so if you go by car ask at the office (+43 6246 72477-0, [email protected]).

The 2018 cabins have large windows for the view. It can be quite a bit colder and windier up top than in the valley: bring a warm layer even in summer. The website is in German and English.